SHAH ALAM: Just as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad became Prime Minister for the second time this year, Sungai Kandis by-election Independent candidate and retiree Murthy Krishnasamy is hoping that he, too, will be given the chance to serve the rakyat once again.
The 60-year-old Selangor government pensioner who once did administrative work, said he wants to continue contributing to the Selangor government, and this time, through the state legislative assembly as an assemblyman.
He believes that his 34 years of experience will benefit the people.
"I want to create history, just like Dr Mahathir.
“Dr Mahathir was given the chance to lead the country twice. So, I see this as my second opportunity to serve Selangor and this can happen if the Sungai Kandis constituents choose me," said Murthy.
He was speaking after being declared a candidate earlier today in a three-cornered fight for the state constituency seat.
Murthy, who had chosen to contest under the logo of a pen, is up against Barisan Nasional's Datuk Lokman Adam Noor and PKR's Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.
A father-of four, the Klang man said Pas’s decision to sit out the election played no role in his decision to contest.
In addition, he sees no problem in being an unfamiliar face to Sungai Kandis constituents, as he lives not far away, in Klang.
"I decided to contest after receiving a message from God. It wasn't until yesterday morning that I made up my mind.
“So I will leave it up to God (whether I win or lose). The voters will indicate if they are accepting of me and I will prove this during my ceramahs," he added.
Murthy said that he will bank on his fluency in Hokkien to attract Chinese voters in Sungai Kandis.
He said he picked up the language while growing up in a Chinese-majority neighbourhood.
"I mixed with a lot of Chinese friends when I was young, and I learnt the language through them. So, I can speak Hokkien and I believe this can be my plus point to fish votes from Chinese as well as Indian voters," he added.